CPU
GPU
Core i5-7442EQ
Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-7442EQ is positioned at rank 807 and the Athlon Gold 7220U is on rank 655, so the Athlon Gold 7220U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7442EQ
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7442EQ | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) / 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7442EQ | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7442EQ and Athlon Gold 7220U
Core i5-7442EQ
The Core i5-7442EQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,834 points. Launch price was $250.
Athlon Gold 7220U
The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7442EQ packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon Gold 7220U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-7442EQ has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i5-7442EQ versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U — a 55.2% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 7220U. The Core i5-7442EQ uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon Gold 7220U uses Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7442EQ scores 4,834 against the Athlon Gold 7220U's 4,904 — a 1.4% lead for the Athlon Gold 7220U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-7442EQ vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 7220U.
| Feature | Core i5-7442EQ | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+76% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 6 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 4,834 | 4,904+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 728 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,387 | — |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-7442EQ versus 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-7442EQ supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-7442EQ) vs 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) — the Core i5-7442EQ offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: QM175,HM175,CM238 (Core i5-7442EQ) and FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U).
| Feature | Core i5-7442EQ | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | FT6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | 5500+137400% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+419430300% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7442EQ) vs true (Athlon Gold 7220U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7442EQ) and Radeon 610M (Athlon Gold 7220U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7442EQ targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4.
| Feature | Core i5-7442EQ | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | Radeon 610M |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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